First spices park to be launched today

KOCHI: The Spices Board will open its first Spices Park in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on Saturday for the processing of cumin, coriander and fennel seeds. The Board has completed the construction of the park with an investment of Rs 27 crore. The park will be inaugurated by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma in the presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.The park is set up in an area of 60.07 acres provided by the Rajasthan Government free of cost. The Spices Park has common infrastructure and processing facilities for seed spices, especially for cumin and coriander which are widely grown in the state. The machineries are capable for the processing of other seed spices like fennel and fenugreek. The Board will allot individual slots for  exporters on lease basis for developing their own processing plants in the park. Twenty exporters will get the opportunity to set up processing plants. For the storage of raw materials for processing and to take care of the processed materials, the Park has six warehouses exclusively for various seed spices separately. The Board’s regional and zonal offices will start functioning from the Spices Park with more orientation towards the spices growing villages.